V-C’s effigy burnt at University of Hyderabad after removal of Dalit ghetto

TNN | Jan 7, 2019, 02.13 PM IST

HYDERABAD: Removal of Velivada (Dalit ghetto) at the University of Hyderabad, where Rohith Vemula spent his last days before committing suicide on January 17, 2016, sparked protests at the varsity as students burnt the effigy of vice-chancellor Appa Rao Podile, condemning the act.

The Velivada was erected by members of Ambedkar Students Association (ASA) and others after Vemula was suspended with four other research scholars from their hostels on January 4, 2016. The Velivada, made of flexis of icons such as Jyotirao Phule, Savitribai, Dr BR Ambedkar, Periyar, Ayyankali and others, was a shelter for the five research scholars for nearly two weeks before Vemula’s suicide hit the university.

In the last three years, portraits of the icons withered, forcing students to replace it on January 4, 2018. On Sunday morning, students were shocked to see that the Velivada was removed by the university authorities. The ASA members suspect that the action by the administration was prompted by the vicechancellor, who continues to serve the university despite being an accused under SC/ ST Atrocities Act. “Appa Rao Podile chose to remove the Velivada on the day it was erected. We were sent notices to remove Velivada. How can they remove icons and the structure which protected us?,” said Prashanth Dontha, one of the five research scholars who was suspended by the university along with Vemula.

Students raised slogans against the administration as they protested within the campus and vowed to commence their struggle. “January 17 is not too far. It is time for all of us to reunite and protest demanding removal of Appa Rao Podile from the V-Cs post,” said Dontha.

Addressing the student community at Velivada, Dontha referred to a notice issued by the vice-chancellor to four ASA members on January 5 asking them to remove the Velivada. “The university administration has been issuing several circulars not to display any banners, posters, flexis etc. on the campus without prior permission. However, it has come to the notice of the administration that flexis and posters were erected at the shopping complex (north) on the interim night of January 4-5 at around 12:45 am, despite objections raised by the security personnel not to damage the ground by digging at the university’s property and erecting a temporary shed with banners, flexis etc.,” read the notice.